JAMES P. EVANS is a partner in the firm of Barclay Damon, LLP, which has nearly 300 experienced attorneys across 33 specialized and diverse practice areas, in 11 strategically located offices. He is located in the firm's Syracuse office, where he practices in the areas of municipal law, education law, labor and employment law, commercial litigation, insurance coverage litigation, and construction law. Mr. Evans has successfully handled a number of legal matters relating to the legal obligations of public agencies and municipalities over the past 25 years, and he regularly advises and represents public educational institutions, among other clients. He is an assistant professor of education at Le Moyne College, where he teaches master's level courses in education law; and he has been a guest lecturer for the New York State Bar Association and higher education institutions, and a frequent lecturer for National Business Institute. Mr. Evans is a member of the American, New York State and Onondaga County bar associations. He earned his B.A. degree from New York State University at Oswego and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law.

GEORGE E. MEAD III began working for Madison-Oneida BOCES in May of 2013. Mr. Mead has been building on a career in public service since 1980. Beginning his legal career working as counsel for his hometown, the city of Rome, he has served as Jefferson County attorney, assistant state attorney general, regional attorney for the NYS DEC, LeRay town justice, and a municipal attorney while in private practice at Schwerzmann & Wise, P.C. (Watertown, 2001-2013). Mr. Mead’s work has involved handling the legal affairs of municipalities, public authorities, not-for-profit organizations, businesses, and now BOCES and school districts. Throughout his career, he has worked with various governing boards and officers in all areas of municipal law and governance, including legislation, regulation, and policy-making; liability; law enforcement; FOIL-OML; education law; juvenile proceedings; civil service, employment and labor laws; human resources; labor negotiations, grievances, arbitrations, and hearings; workers' compensation; environmental matters; contracts; real estate; land use; finance; and related municipal litigation. Mr. Mead has served on the Governor's Advisory Committee to the New York State Commission on Ethics in Local Government and several state task forces to revise state laws concerning local governments. He has presented many training programs for local government officials and continuing education programs for attorneys and judges. Mr. Mead received his undergraduate degree from Colgate University and his J.D. degree from New York Law School.

CHARLES E. SYMONS is an attorney with Ferrara Fiorenza P.C. Mr. Symons’ primary practice areas are labor and employment law, education law, constitutional law, and related civil litigation. A substantial portion of his practice has involved the defense of school districts in state and federal court, at both the trial court and appellate court levels. Mr. Symons also regularly represents school districts in administrative proceedings before the New York State Division of Human Rights, the New York State Education Department, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Education, and other administrative agencies. Mr. Symons lectures on topics related to his practice areas and is a member of the Onondaga County, New York State, and American bar associations; the Bar Association for the Federal District Court for the Northern District of New York; the New York State Association of School Attorneys; and the New York State School Boards Association. He is also approved by the New York State Education Department to provide training regarding harassment, bullying, cyberbullying, and discrimination pursuant to the Dignity for All Students Act. Mr. Symons received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Saint Lawrence University and earned his J.D. degree from University of Cincinnati, College of Law.